posted on July 1, 2002 12:51:00 PM new
my wording was too strong if you are using it for simple easy applications its ok get into anything a bit technical it is not very user friendly.
posted on July 1, 2002 01:45:45 PM new
This may be a little OT, but read today that when you upgrade you MS mediaplayer with the "latest" security upgrade, MS is also adding anti-piracy software so the player won't work if you play "pirated" movies or music.
posted on July 1, 2002 04:51:57 PM new
I can't help to suggest a company that provides great service as I think that those companies, except Apple, sell those name brand computers just to beginners who have never owned a computer before. After they own their computer and try to upgrade it, they discover how totally screwed they usually get trying to do it themselves. With just a tiny bit of techincal know-how, most people can easily upgrade cards, comp[onents, and operating systems with relative ease. And to do that, you often have to get rid of your "name brand" computer, as they often sabotage any opportunity for you to mess with the pc itself.
As far as Celeron or Duron goes, why buy crap? With Intel CPUs, the main difference between regular CPUs and Celerons is that the microprocesor memory cache is diminshed to such a small amount that it actually inhibits the operating performance of the CPU. Intel only does this as a way to supply the demand for lower pricing.
As far as operating systems go, a lot of people seem to like it. I am concerned that Bill went back on his advisor's and split the O/S into crappy, cut-down, crashy home additions and also a standard O/S which they call the "Professional" edition. In other words, it's like the Intel CPUs. You buy crap, you can't complain.
My choice of back-up systems is the reWriteable CDROM. I've used Tape Backups before and have seen how the tape stretches and screws up the data; of a magnet comes by and screws it up; or how it gets too hot and/or humid and the data is lost. CDROM stuff is expensive for the equpitment (up-front costs), but the reWriteable blanks can be had for less than $1 apiece and hold 500 megabytes of storage. Tape has more capacity, but that's just more data to loose IMO. Removeable Hard Drives were my next best item to CDROMS because of speed, capacity, and safety of data stored. The problem is the cost of going that way.
posted on July 1, 2002 07:03:38 PM new
CaptKirk is right about the optical mouse and keyboard. Oh, the freedom. $950 seems high though.
For myself, I buy barebones and upgrade. I'm running Windows ME , and I haven't had problems with 256 mb RAM. Less and it crashed like a dummy in a Pinto. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on July 1, 2002 08:13:29 PM new
"$950 seems high though"
well, it is and it isn't. For that you get service, support, web site, antivirus software, some other software, blah, blah, blah. I offered the "dont think" solution, not the cheap solution.
Like you, my last system cost more like $200...no monitor, no operating system, no software, no support, no ISP, etc. It worked for me..but it took a lot of time, effort, and decisions to complete, which doesn't sound like what nycyn wants.
posted on July 2, 2002 05:46:49 AM new
>>and it crashed like a dummy in a Pinto.<<
Now that was a gawd-awful car.
I guess I missed the Dell sale. Even negotiating the site was more than I could handle in the itty bit of time I had last night. The flat monitor was not their own; at least I picked that much up.
posted on July 2, 2002 06:59:40 AM new
Dont worry about missing dell's sale...now they have a new one! Amazing, isnt it? They pretty much cycle through various freebies. Now, you get a free (low end) digital camera and a $100 rebate.
In any case, if you want to find the system I described, go to the dell web site, click on "home and home office" on the upper right hand side, then click on "desktops" in about the same place, then you can click on "choose dimension 4500" and customize it.
Basically, after the $00 rebate, the prices seem pretty similar.
If you do end up buying a system like this, all I ask for a buyer's fee is the digicam if you have no other use for it.
Just for the record, by the way, I have no strong interest in Dell, per se, they just happen to have the best business model right now for people who just want to buy a decent PC and forget about it.
posted on July 2, 2002 07:50:08 AM new
There is the dell 4500 and the 4500S. The cheaper one is a smaller case that doesn't appear to support more than one large drive, so I dont recommend it. I'd rather have two 5" bays for drives, so I can have a dvd drive and a cdrw drive....or some other combination of two large drives.
It all ultimately comes down to your budget. Dell does have several cheaper lines of PCs, but you start losing flexibility (IMO) with less than the 4500 series. Plus, you have the 'packard bell effect'...where you can buy a cheaper model, and pay maybe $100 or so less...but you have to cut out a lot of useful features to save that amount.
On the other hand, the 8200 series is billed as "cutting edge technology". In other words, "pay through the nose for the latest and greatest that will be half price in 6 months". If you like toys, this is fine, but if you are on any kind of a budget, its best to let others pay dell's profit.
posted on July 2, 2002 11:52:42 AM new
Back. Turned the computer off and on as usual. Went back to Dell got dizzy. First time around there were only 2 monitor choices--the $300 Dell flat or the included "non-Dell" flat; oh, and "you must get a monitor for this 'outrageous deal'. When I went back to start all over there were maybe 8 choices. Maybe they are set up for impulse buyers. They could make it easier to find specs on monitors, etc. in item bundles. Not to mention I don't want MSN or AOL pre-installed. Then, do I need the juke-box, storage services, network card, Norton or McAfee software, the CD/DVD thing, video edit, etc., etc.? Beejeezus. I don't even know what these things are.
I have a DVD on mine but I have never used it, not one time. For what, so I can watch movies on my monitor?? I really don't know!
posted on July 2, 2002 12:11:28 PM new
I"m not sure why the monitor choices changed for you; I see the same choices each time when I follow the links described above. There is definitely a "no monitor at all" option that reduces your price by $110 (and also saves shipping costs, no doubt).
The specs are all to be found in the "? learn more" button on the right of each item.
Most of the junk you mention (norton, jukebox, etc) is just included software that you can cheerfully delete if there is that option or ignore if there isnt.
as far as not wanting MSN internet access, again, you can just ignore it. I'm sure you just get a code for 6 months free access if you want to use it.
In terms of the DVD, it has two main useful uses right now: 1) encyclopedias 2) printshop type graphics programs. Both of these have typically 2 - 10 CDs, now they all fit on one DVD. You can watch a dvd movie on your monitor, but most people find that unexciting.
posted on July 2, 2002 12:19:11 PM new
Here's another interesting option: go to compusa.com and click on their clearance section...and find an HP refurb wiht the closest specs (I haven't peeked through them all). No choices to be made, they just come (no monitors). Pretty good deals.
CRT. They are cheaper and better in ALL ways except size.
Processor.
AMD Athlon or Duron. They are much faster than the equivalent PIII or P4 and much cheaper
Memory.
W98SE 128 meg mostly maxes out the improvment. W2k, the more the better, but 256-512K is fine.
If you order a Dell you'll spend a couple hundred because it's an Intel processor, then they'll charge you sales tax, then $125-150 to ship it to you.
Go across the River to a Staples or Office Max or Walmart and buy a last years model Compaq or HP (both of these makers have AMD based lines) at one of the give away sales. $699 to $899 would probably get you something that would give you nosebleeds compared to the old junk.
posted on July 2, 2002 05:43:56 PM new
>>1. Laptop? Desktop? how many of each do you want? If you want two computers, then figure out whether you need 0, 1, or 2 of each.
2. Monitors: For each desktop above, do you need a monitor? Or will you use your existing one?
3. What is your total budget?<<
1) I'd like a desktop for me, probably, but can't afford it. So 2 PC's.
My budget is value for the dollar. Absolutely max 2K, but it better be worth it.
Mail in rebates seldom work so are not a hook for me. I mean why would they bother if they didn't know that.
2) I have an NEC MultiSync FE700 which I could either give to The Kid or keep for myself. I do worry about radiation and all that--for him. For me I care about refresh rate and image size for graphics; I think.
posted on July 2, 2002 07:10:36 PM new
OK, here's my suggestion.
Buy the following two refurbs (with 1 year warranty) from compusa.com:
HP520N - 1.3Gigahertz, 60Meg HD, 512Meg RAM, cdrw, dvd drive
HP7915 - 1.1GHz, 40Meg, 128Meg, cdrom drive
Between these two systems, you have both a burner and a DVD drive. One system has a lot of ram and HD space for space/memory intensive tasks (put the scanner here), and the other is fine for educational stuff.
Both have windows XP so you only have to learn one new OS.
The base cost of the two together is $1100, add tax and shipping, maybe $1300. No rebates. No returns either, so you have to be sure. But these might sell out pretty quickly, so decide sooner rather than later.
Leaves you plenty of budget left for one monitor ($100 - $300) plus printer ($100 - $200) and accessories (blank cds, couple of cables, maybe an optical mouse, etc).
As far as the monitor, that's personal preference. Go to your local compusa/staples/etc and look at monitors and buy one that works for you.
Printers....it depends on what you need. Color? high speed or low? high volume or low?
i've got to keep trucking for now. good luck with whatever you decide.
